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The Afterpast Review

A Feminist Magazine

Roseate by Erika (Massachusetts)

11/5/2024

 
Artist's Description: 
I aimed to create a powerful presence in the woman's direct gaze, demanding attention and challenging the viewer. I opted for bold strokes and a mosaic of pink shades to emphasize that qualities often considered soft or vulnerable are, in reality, wellsprings of strength. Furthermore, the use of bright, unapologetic pink was a deliberate choice to subvert traditional gendered associations and to reclaim the color as a symbol of empowerment and defiance. The textured layers of paint, applied with a dynamic and almost aggressive technique, mirror the turbulent journey of the women's rights movement, the collective demand for equality and the refusal to be silenced by women.

​

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Masks by Irina Tall

12/10/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
Masks, most often behind some external expression the inner world is hidden, my masks are people. Their flight and appeal to nature connects them with the living world. The mask is a certain entity, and it is a woman, at least everything I write I personify with a woman...

​I want to show with my work that in addition to appearance, there is something internal, something that is important and needs to be preserved, that perhaps does not appear externally and can only be known through a deeper conversation.

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Girl by Irina Tall

12/10/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
Girl, this work is about how you can find freedom, become who you feel like you are. A girl at work becomes a bird, her friends fly next to her, who have lost their external appearance.

I want to show with my work that in addition to appearance, there is something internal, something that is important and needs to be preserved, that perhaps does not appear externally and can only be known through a deeper conversation.

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Rosa Rosa by Yoonji Huh (South Korea)

9/30/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
This piece is a Venus sculpture drawn on a vibrant hot pink background. 
The tropical leaves around her seem to almost cover her body, but it never fully shadows. 
Nudes have always been the most intriguing object for me to draw, 
because I think they are the most beautiful thing that could exist on earth. 

We all should never feel shameful about our curves, and our curved body; 
the symbol of femininity. And not only women, but each individuals must love their physical
specialties. We should all be proud of our natural body.
​

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Wild flowers by Yoonji Huh (South Korea)

9/30/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
This piece is a depiction of wildflowers that do not exist in reality. The unreal flowers were
used to not to limit the imagination of the audience. 
Vivid flowers are patternlessly
arranged on a dark navy colour for a contrast. 
I wanted to tell that all the brightness of the
world can be itself only if the darkness is there, in a more dramatic way. It may be seen
as quite depressing and disturbing, but just as how brightness depends on the darkness,
it reveals that dark still coexist with the light. 
While it is very common to only think of just
one single thing, and consider everything else as extra complexity of the whole picture, I wanted
to find the tranquility under complications.
​

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Stray by Jia Dunsby (South Korea)

9/29/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
To me, this photograph primarily resonates with the theme “Imperfect Present”. I took this
photograph of a stray cat laying on a street corner in Jeju City, Jeju Island. This photograph
seems to exhibit a strong sense of juxtaposition between the beauty/elegance of the cat, with its
glacial blue eyes and pink undertones, and the heartbreaking situation it faces, having to live
alone on the street with limited access to food and water. I see a resemblance to women;
despite the inner beauty and innocence of women, they can often be surrounded by negativity
and discrimination purely on the basis of their gender. When I saw this cat, I was extremely
saddened by the isolation and negligence that was so central to its lifestyle, and I hope that
everyone can empathize with women in a similar way instead of dismissing their ideas and
experiences.
​
I also feel that there’s a strong sense of hurt or vulnerability depicted in the photograph. Upon
approaching the cat, I immediately noticed the cuts along her waterline and the dried blood
covering the tip of her nose. I also saw lots of dirt covering her delicate white fur, and from the
way she looked up at us longingly, I could tell she was pleading for love. Thus, I’d also like to
place this photograph in the perspective of “A Past of Protest” because for so long, women have
endured so much suffering and bigotry despite their purity. It’s important that we don’t forget the
years of injustices women experienced, such as denied access to education, unequal treatment
in wider communities, and domestic violence. We must acknowledge the innocence and value
of women, break the chain of inequality and move towards boundless respect.
​

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Rose by Jia Dunsby (South Korea)

9/29/2023

 
Artist's Description: 
I believe this photograph is best suited with the section “A Feminist Future”. I took this
photograph in the Outdoor Seoul Botanical Garden as the flowers began to blossom in the
Spring. To me, the rose blooming represents my hope for a season of empowerment and growth
in feminism across the world. With the onset of more feminist groups and social media
campaigns, we have become closer to transforming power dynamics and policies.

Furthermore, a rose is often used to symbolize female reproductive organs, with various
cultures and artistic representations using flowers to represent fertility. Through this photograph,
I aim to draw attention to the recent efforts to combat legislation restricting reproductive
healthcare. I believe that autonomy over reproduction is the key pillar of the overall health,
empowerment, and human rights of women. The beauty and intricacies of the rose pattern in
the photograph alludes to the physical and emotional significance of womens’ ability to control
their beautiful bodies.

I also think that the photograph pairs well with “A Past of Protest” as well. The rose also
embodies the years of strength, resilience, and vitality demonstrated by women who fought for
their rights in various facets of life, such as voting and workplace treatment. Both the vibrant
energy radiating from the rose and its ability to grow in various conditions, from lush gardens to
harsh environments, speak to its power to overcome challenges and thrive. Similarly, over the
past few decades, women have been able to use their powerful spirits to combat sexism with a
drive for change.
​

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